Things to do in and around Sydney
Sydney Opera House & the Harbour Bridge is a must of course on your first visit to Sydney. If you are a thrill seeker and not afraid of heights, you might wanna join the Bridge Climb. Don't skip past the Botanical Gardens while you are at Circular Quay.
Sydney Harbour
The most famous National Park is the Blue Mountains in Sydney. It has the icon of the Three Sisters, and some good fun on the Railway down the valley and over the ridge. However, it is also the most crowded. If you want to go off the beaten path check out Royal National Park, or Ku-ring-Gai Chase National Park. If you are interested in the latter, check out our Bush and Beach day tour.
Blue Mountains National Park
Sydney is not all sun, water and beach. Besides the beautiful natural phenomena above ground in New South Wales, you can find the most amazing caves tucked away under the Blue Mountains. Out of 3oo caves, 9 are open to the public. There is also a really nice walking track running along the Jenolan Caves for those who don't like the dark so much... There is accommodation available for those who want to make it a multi-day getaway.
Jenolan Caves
The Sydney Harbour National Park covers a lot of ground. One of our favorite tracks is the Hermitage Foreshore Walk starting in Vaucluse, finishing at Nielsen Park. The trail runs through bush and explores many of the small beaches on the Sydney Harbour with great views of the Bridge. it will take you about 1 hour one way at a relatively slow pace to cover the 1.8 kilometers. It is a track with uneven surfaces and steps, so would not recommend if you are not very mobile. Spending the afternoon at Nielsen Park for a coffee or a swim is just as nice!
Hermitage Foreshore Walk
North Sydney might not be on your list of things to do in sydney, especially when you see all the business tower up across the Bridge. However, if you happen to go for a stroll past Luna Park alongside the foreshore boardwalk, you will find yourself immersed in the beautiful Secret Garden of Wendy Whiteley. The garden is open to the public and completely free.
Secret Garden
This is the original settlement area of the city of Sydney. Find the oldest houses and narrow laneways here. Today it is taken over by pubs, cafes and restaurants. There is also a weekly food stall market on Fridays.
The Rocks
If you want thrills in Australia, the best place to be is the Gold Coast, which you can call Theme Park Central. However, if you are desperate, you might get some jitters going at Luna Park in North Sydney. Even if you don't go inside, the view over the Harbour from here is amazing and the park's entrance is worth a picture. An easy ferry ride away from Circular Quay too.
Luna Park
if you are a wine connoisseur, or just like to taste a new drop for free, make your way up to the Hunter Valley with far too many little and big vinyard to count. If you want to get off the beaten path, Kangaroo Valley also has some more secret vineyards on offer...
Hunter Valley
As capital of Australia you will find its main political Hub here. Catch the free tour in the Parliament and make sure to get to the roof for a great view over the majestic Anzac Parade to the other side with the War Memorial. This is one of the greatest memorials in Australia and definitely worth a visit. Another good reason to visit Canberra is for the numerous amount of art and history musea, as well as Questacon, a technology museum. Furthermore, take your bike for a nice ride along the big lake. It takes you just under 4 hours to get to the Capital by bus. It is a pleasant stop on your way to Melbourne.
Canberra
Nelson Bay is a mesmerizing place where you can find peace, quiet and beauty. Tomaree National park will blow your mind if you push through to get to the top of the hill. The main town is Port Stephens where you can also jump on a dolphin or whale cruise. On the other side of the peninsula you will find Anna Bay with massive sand dunes where you can do 4WD on the beach or pick a camel for a beach ride. Port Stephens is located north of Sydney and takes about 2.5h by car.
Port Stephens
Like with rivalry between Melbourne and Sydney, there is also rivalry within Sydney of who is to claim the better beach. Put it to the test and discover both. Best way to do this is to make your way there via the coastal walks. Spit Bridge to Manly walk, Watsons Bay to Bondi walk or Coogee Beach to Bondi walk. When in Manly, make sure to walk all the way to Shelly Beach and have a snorkel if you can as this is a protected marine reserve. Up from Shelly Beach also starts a walk with great views over Manly Beach.
Bondi or Manly Beach
When you think of Australia, first thing that comes to mind are probably all the poisonous spiders and snakes, or the fluffy koalas and kangaroos or wombats. Taronga Zoo has a really good variety of animals to see in a great environment. Make sure to take the ferry across from Circular Quay to get the view off all the Sydney icons such as Opera House and Bridge from the water. If you want to see Kangaroos and Wombats in the wild, check out our tour page Walking with Wombats.
Taronga Zoo
In Winter this place offers you a great weekend getaway to experience the snow. But in Summer this place still is a great place of interest, with the main event being Mt Kosciuszko, the highest mountain in Australia. Take the track to the summit, or hire a mountain bike and explore the National Park. This region is best to visit as an overnight trip as it is about 6h away from Sydney, or 2.5 hours from Canberra and 3h from Melbourne.
Snowy Mountains
One of the reasons you are in Sydney might be because you have been a "Home and Away" fan for years and years. You can't wait to see the iconic Surf and Life Saving Club at golden "Summer Bay". You can make your way there via public transport, or you can jump on one of our tours that also stops in at Palm Beach, which is the official name of the film location. You can wander freely around the icons of the show, or enjoy a majestic view of the Headlands from the Lighthouse. If you are visiting the Northern Beaches out that way make sure to stop in at The Newport for a drink or a meal.
